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THAMES A KEW BRIDGE G ST MARGARETS LANDSCAPE STRATEGY The bones of woolly mammoth, rhinoceros and hippopotamus St Margarets was historically an important centre for the HAMPTON to KEW have been found in the river here – some as old as half a million mak ing of gunpowder. Today the river is far quieter and is an years. There have been three bridges at Kew, the first in 1759 important nursery ground for fish. Just 50 years ago the River replacing an earlier ferry. The path along the Hollows contains Thames was so polluted that it was biologically dead. From the many steep steps and is regularly inundated by the tide so the 1960s onwards the Thames has been cleaned and today over walker may want to start at Watermans Park. 120 dif ferent types of fish are found including flounder, pike The Arcadian and eel. B WATERMANS PARK BRENTFORD This lovely waterside park was once a gas works! Look out for H RICHMOND Thames Walks the Kew Bridge Steam Museum tower and the changes in the Historic Richmond, the home of Kings and Queens was chosen tide when the river can empty completely. Where children now due to its pleasant position under Richmond Hill, good hunting A series of healthy walks for all the family to enjoy play, Julius Caesar is rumoured to have crossed the river here and easy access by rowing boat to central London. Richmond during the Roman invasion of England. Palace was the main home of the Tudor monarchs who referred to it as their ‘winterbox’. Queen Elizabeth I died at the Palace No1. BRENTFORD - RICHMOND C THAMES ISLANDS in 1603 and was rowed by state barge to Westminster to be Many of the Thames islands are now designated as nature reserves buried. From Richmond the H37 or 65 bus can be taken back via ISLEWORTH & KEW where herons can be seen nesting in the willow trees and feeding to Brentford. along the river’s edge. Some of the boat scenes from the film THE OLD DEER PARK ‘The African Queen’ were filmed on Lots Ait (immediately oppo site I the Watermans Arts Centre). Originally laid out as a Royal Hunting Park, the line of the Kew Meridian can be seen (marked by a series of obelisks) from which D THE GRAND UNION CANAL the ‘King’s Time’ was measured. Continue along the tow path Ferry Quays is at the entrance of the Grand Union Canal. Once through the wet woodland –avery special habitat for birds and a bustling inland port the area is now mainly housing. Look out for insects. Kingfishers can be seen in this area. the remaining boat builders as they are quickly disappearing. The canal links the Thames with Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool, a J KEW TOWPATH & KEW GARDENS journey of four weeks by narrow boat! As you walk along the towpath cast an eye across the river to Isleworth. It is hard to believe that you are only eight miles E SYON PARK from central London. The waterside flood meadows of Syon The London home of the Dukes of Northumberland, Syon Park House, grazed by a herd of cows, is now the most important was designed by Capability Brown in the 1760s and is currently nature reserve along London’s river being the only natural being restored back to its former glory. river bank left in the capital. The tidally flooded willows by the river provide shade for the Two-lipped Door Snail and the F ISLEWORTH German Hairy Snail – that is one of the rarest species in Britain. Leaving Syon Park, the walk rejoins the riverside at Isleworth. It is about 4-6 mm across, milk chocolate coloured with tiny One of England’s finest artists J.M .W Turner lived near the bristles that might help it to float. The towpath continues DISCOVER THE ARCADIAN THAMES church. The walk turns from the riverside at Isleworth and fol lows alongside the world famous Kew Gardens where you can the road to Railshead Road where the river should be re-joined explore the world’s largest collection of rare and exotic plants, Explore the fascinating and historic River Thames on your (to the left just after the ‘welcome to the London Borough of as well as the historic glasshouses. doorstep. Places to see, wonderful river facts, access Richmond Upon Thames’ sign). information, public transport, picnic spots and lots more . Printed on 80% recycled paper TLS­Leaflet­1­Rev2­Print_TLS­Leaflet­1­Rev2­Print­­24/03/2010­­11:48­­Page­2

Kew Bridge E Kew Bridge A Steam Museum L OAD IN R 65 267 GE G RID Steps B R W D E O K A

O Brentford A R

T D R S Watermans B E K ive W E r BRENTFORD Arts Centre W A T AT Brentford h E R G H Ait R r O G and A Uni ET o A n L E

F R D C 267 T a S Steps n A a HG 65 l C O Lot’s W IG H A a R T l W Ait Kew Green KEY k E . C 65 Ferry KEW Bus Route D A

D Quay O R O N M DO C The Arcadian Brentford N K Kew O LO R R Thames Walk k D Brentford Palace T Lock Loc D LA KE Docks R T O Syon Lane Thames Path H AM A 267 E H Steps D

Place of Interest D

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Tripboat Stop R K

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W W Pub E E K G D N To i lets ROYAL BOTANIC S R

D Approximate Distance: GARDENS KEW AD Kew G RO 10 km /6 miles (3 hours) N

Syon

House ­

0 0.5 1 km BE SAFE AND ENJOY YOUR VISIT

The foreshore is an amazing place to discover SYON PARK hidden treasures and explore, but please be

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aware of the following: A N O

S • Wash hands before eating and drinking. R

E • Wear sensible shoes/wellies for walking on

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the shore. M 267 O • Do not wander off on your own, the tide C

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can turn suddenly. D N

• Be aware of deep mud. A

S • Advise children not to run, there are often Rive . r Crane W H ST al RC hidden trip hazards. k U H • Keep an eye out for passing boats – they

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Kings may produce a sudden wash.

Observatory •This area is tidal, so please be aware that F the tide will come in and may flood certain O areas. If unsure, check the times of the tides UT before setting out. H ST. Isleworth

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I C Ait D H37 A

H THE THAMES LANDSCAPE O M R STRATEG. Y(TLS) M D O R W A E The TLS aims toK cEonserve, enhance and pro mote N OLD DEER PARK 65 K LA N D the remaRrkTable Arcadian Thames between O O R M O EHRampton and Kew. For more about the TLS I W R A LO 371 R68 and useful visitor information please goR to:

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www.thames-landscape-strategy.org.uk

A D . A O D D R T RICHMOND R M O e A R68 H H W THERE COULD BE A BETTER WAY n N S E a E K K

r R K

A TO TRAVEL

C C P I

Richmond H r

W When you explore the many wonderful C

T I e G T R

N v S ER i Richmond P

Lock A treasures dotted along the ArcadianTham e s UP T R R D

A you will find that there are many different ways M R R A U D E N Q A ’S N T to get around. RET E A H A L L E E R G A M E T R G C G EEN A A R . O SH RD. Smarter Travel Richmond upon Thames pro vides G A H L E H37 A E ST N A M D H P N 371 R D E S travel advice and support for people living, I N L . T R ST V G . E E E O A R K L D working or visiting the area to explore cheaper, T S O A C R . E O ’ I IA A R S L G easier and healthier ways to enjoy the experience.

FR ISE R E D R W Richmond T RA T A PA For more information please visit:

D Palace W H . www.smartertravelrichmond.org

Steps 65 E ENU Richmond E AV Bridge D TH A O D D A R ROA O H E . TSEY S R L ER T D IL I D H 33 R68 L T R M N S A O R ’S M IS ’S R H E N G IC R E A R A E R I 371 E R U T H37 F St. Margarets ’S Q R D P C C E A Access Information: Some sections of th e w a lk h a v e a rough and uneven surface. There are several steps and steep climbsR. A series of accessible guidesM are available on the TLS website. R T BR I IA O E C N R R D W H DGE S RI P M N MB AR H CA K O

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utes

Place of Interest

Tripboat stop